Wrong time, Right Place

A man, 52, was fatally injured riding a mule on the path to the sea on the caldera of the dormant volcano; his wife and daughter and two Mexican women were also hurt. I’ve ridden these animals and the path is treacherous. But, the Mules are sure-footed. The Donkey drivers are on foot and the tourists love the ride. The Mules are a weathered team of sweaty and dusty animals. Two major paths lead up from the sea at this area and the port area of Thera. The 52-year-old American tourist was killed on Monday in a rockfall near the old port of Oia on the southern Aegean island of Santorini, police said, adding that the man’s wife and daughter as well as two Mexican tourists were also hurt.

The incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on stone path near the port when a mass of earth and rocks tumbled onto the 52-year-old, who had been riding a donkey. The man is believed to have been killed instantly. Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos told Kathimerini that landslides are very rare on the island.

My understanding is a tremor of a minor quake may have dislodged the landslide, but these cliffs are very unstable due to the earthquake in the ’50s that really took out this village and the rubble is everywhere. The beach of Amoudi is directly below the several hundred stone steps from Oia down to the port. The two wonderful tavernas below are worth every ache and pain. Try the fried squid brought in on the fishing mini caiiques every morning. Done in pure cold-press olive oil of that greenish hue and sprinkled in salt and lemon, these are crispy and best served here. A path to the left leads to the nudist beach and the surrounding flat ledges of stone over the inky Aegean Sea. The water is very clear and drops hundreds of feet in the caldera of Santorini. Massive Oceanliners pass a few hundred yards away from this small beach.

Oh, by the way, if you leave your hard hat home, there is a two lane service road to the port from Oia. And, the mules appear to need a well deserved break. Condolences to the bereaved family.